From Atoms to Cells

AP Environmental Science

Chapter 3

Terms

Matter-takes up space and has mass, and is not alive

Molecules- are combinations of nonmetal atoms held together by covalent bonds

Organic Molecules are carbon based molecules that also contain hydrogen, and sometimes also oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur.

Proteins, Nucleic Acids, Lipids, Carbohydrates

Terms

Compounds- are combinations of atoms held together by ionic or covalent bondsCovalent- sharing electrons Ionic- opposite charges

Atoms

Atoms- are the smallest unit of elements and are listed on the periodic table

Neutrons Electrons Protons

Atoms can be:

Isotopes-same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons

Monatomic- one atomPolyatomic- more than one atom

IONS

Ions- atoms or combinations of atoms that demonstrate an unbalanced electrical charge (total number of electrons does not equal the number of protons)

Anion- negatively charged Cation- positively charges

it takes a really strong solvent able to break apart ionic compounds

Polar Molecules

These molecules have a separation of electrical charge within the molecule that helps it to be attracted to ions or other polar molecules.water is a polar moleculeThe polarity of water makes it a really strong

solvent able to break apart ionic compounds

This is your life!

You take up spaceYou have massYou exist in three distinct forms or

phasesYou can be either an element, a

molecule, or a compound.Whose life is it?

Matter!

Whose life is it?

You comprise elementsIn fact, you are the smallest particle that

still maintains the properties of an element.

You contain three subparticles

Atom!

Whose life is it?

You comprise elementsYou have three sub-particles, but they

are out of whack.You lose or gain some and that cause

you to lose your “balance”

Ion

Whose life is it?

You are always the same!You occasionally lose one of your sub-

particles, which causes to gain and lose mass.

Deuterium and tritium are examples

Isotope

Whose life is it?

You are unstable.You also spontaneously emit high-

energy electro-magnetic radiation.You are susceptible to decay.

Radioactive Isotope

Whose life is it?

You are vital to cells.You typically sport rings of Carbon as

your skeleton.You are lipids, carbohydrates, proteins

and nucleic acids

Organic Compounds

Whose life is it?

All living things are made of you.You are happy alone or in huge groups.You have a dynamic outer membrane

that protects you from harm, but allows the items you need to enter.

Cell

Whose life is it?

You orchestrate every chemical reaction that takes place in a living thing.

You can speed things up or slow them down.

Nothing happens with out you.Some would describe you as the perfect

fit, almost as if you are a lock and key.You are never consumed or damaged

Enzyme

Whose life is it?

You describe all of the chemical reactions that take place in a living thing.

Some people are annoyed if you act too slowly

Some people love you because they can “eat” anything they want.

Metabolism

Whose Life is it?

You are important to the universeYou provide the force that holds

structures together.You also have the power to tear them

apart.You do work.

Energy

Whose life Is it?

You are contained in moving objects.You are a “take action” kind of force.You are responsible for water flowing

over a dam or an electron shooting around the nucleus of an atom.

Kinetic Energy

Whose life is it?

Some might consider you lazy in comparison to your cousin.

You prefer to lay low and save your energy for a rainy day.

You are the rock on top of the hill or the water stored behind the dam.

Potential Energy

Whose Life is it?

You make your mark in foods and gasoline.

You tend to be stored for a while and then explode onto the scene in a very useful way.

You always perform very useful work, so you are well liked by every living thing.

Chemical Energy

Whose life is it?

You perfectly describe the total activated energy in a substance.

You are at all associated with the bulk movement of a substance.

Heat

Whose life is it?

You are solely concerned with speed.If you were a policeman, you would

definitely want the traffic beat. A radar gun would float your boat.

Temperature